"First though I need you guys to know...to know what happened regarding Ravus, how we were discovered in the first place"

"Wait...you were both caught at the same time? I thought..."

"Not...not exactly, I was caught a little later than Ravus was, but...but that's only because of the fact that quite frankly we separated right before he was caught"

And so Aranea goes into details about what happened a month and a half earlier, how they had discovered at the same time the fact that Ardyn was planning something huge and without Imperial permission regarding a deactivated base, the two of them splitting up per Ravus' orders and the fact that quite frankly Aranea needed to leave for a mission or risk punishment, but how she managed to delay just long enough to see Ravus arrested, the fear of being discovered and the two weeks spent hoping she wasn't. Returning from the mission to discover that while she wasn't officially being charged yet she was under arrest and being investigated. Reuniting with Ravus only to find out that he was going to be executed within days, being witness to his death and her own escape shortly their after and her decision to split the team up for safety before returning and her relief at that decision since she'd officially been charged as a co-conspirator right before her escape and she knew that a trial would only end in her death and the death of her two comrades if they had remained behind with her

"And so I simply kept on the run until I ran into you four destroying the reactivated base and it's weapon"

"Well, you're part of our group now, by the way we didn't get you any new clothes to go with your disguise, we were thinking of doing that at Lestallum"

"I see, let me guess you weren't sure what I would like for clothes"

"Exactly, but to get to Lestallum..."

"That's a problem alright...wait maybe not, tell me something, Ravus once mentioned you guys being allied with the Hunters"

"Of course, that could actually work...except for one thing it's a one way method of communication only for security reasons, I told the head Hunter that if we call him it means we're in way over our heads and he needs to bring backup"

"Then I guess we're staying put or you're figuring something else out"

"Yeah, and I think I know what it is, Iris is going shopping for you initially and then once we have basic clothes we'll take you to Lestallum where you can get clothes better suited to your style, unless you have a different idea"

"Not really...on second thought my first option is back in play because I see the head Hunter right now"

"What?"

The group looks and there was Dave alright

"Come on, let's go talk to him"

And so the group explains the situation to Dave who was actually relieved that Aranea was alive, primarily because of two new Hunters he had

"I can certainly get you Hunter clothing, but first there's a couple of Hunters I want you to meet with"

"Fine, but..."

"They're coming here"

Two hours later and the group is relieved to see the particular Hunters that Dave was talking about, and they deliberately gave Aranea, Biggs and Wedge privacy for their reunion

"So...what's the plan Lady A?"

"Simple we keep separated but do what we can to help take down the Empire, and...get justice for Ravus, look I know it won't be easy and the group already has a contact method but try and keep an eye on Lunafreya somehow, she might be in Altissia by now so check there first"

"Will do"

And so the group splits up but with assurances that contact would be regular and secure, and then the now team of five headed to Lestallum to get their newest member more clothing since Aranea was wearing Hunter clothing that Biggs and Wedge had bought but it was the only clothing she had for disguise and everyone knew it wouldn't work

"Say, it just occurred to me that you four aren't going to be disguised like I am, why is that?"

"Oh we thought about it, almost actually went for it, but then agreed that it was best that we not disguise ourselves primarily because of Ardyn"

"I see"

And so the group makes slow progress, primarily due to the fact that they had to deal with Imperial ships regularly since they were still on the hunt for Aranea and so either had to do fighting or were simply having to take alternate and thus longer routes to the city. What they group wasn't realizing (yet) was the fact that Ignis was slowly but surely increasing his Ebony intake despite the very strict rules he was under regarding that drink. Eventually though they reached Lestallum but since it was nighttime it was agreed that they would simply go straight to the hotel and do other things the next day. The next day would be when they discovered what Ignis had done and only because of Aranea

"Hey guys...why does it look like Specs is practically vibrating from energy today?"

"Wait...what did you say?"

"I said Specs is practically vibrating with energy, watch him and you'll see what I'm talking about"

The three observe and then groan but Noctis was the one who spoke up

"He's getting a lecture that will last him a lifetime, he knows the rules, and the fact that he's broken them means he's going to be punished for this"

"What I'm wondering is how we missed the signs"

"No clue Gladio, but we did and now we're going to have to deal with it"

"Right, and by the way you three are going to get rid of the Ebony while he and I have a little chat"

"Right, he's not going to be too happy with you about that"

"Don't care, he broke the rules"

And so while Gladio, Prompto and Aranea get rid of the Ebony Noctis takes Ignis aside and lectures Ignis for a good two hours about breaking the Ebony rules, and for also not saying that he needed to rest and have someone else take the wheels temporarily

"Noctis, next time it's going to be worse than just a lecture Ignis, trust me what happened today will seem light in comparison"

"Understood"

"Good, now then it's time to get Aranea more clothes and then we're going to be going on Hunts to make up for what we spent and to get used to fighting alongside Aranea, or at the very least so that I can get used to fighting alongside her since I get the feeling you three partnered with her regularly"

"Not as regularly as you suspect, once I managed to hold my own in a fight we barely met up actually, and only once or twice were the three of us fighting alongside her in battle during those ten years"

"Got it, oh and by the way you're also on an Ebony ban for an undetermined amount of time I already had Prompto, Gladio and Aranea get rid of the stock we had already"

"But you said..."

"Two things Ignis, first of all this is a health related reason, second of all, quite frankly I was going to be doing that soon anyways"

"Why?"

"Besides the fact that we need the funds...it's a way to keep us from the Empire"

"How so?"

"According to Biggs and Wedge the Empire apparently knows that you like Ebony, if they try to track us with that knowledge..."

"The quantity amounts could lead them right to us, understood Noct"

"Now then, let's get Aranea the right clothes and then we're going on some Hunts to recuperate what we've spent here, and it will allow us to get used to our newest team member"

And so once the group finishes clothes shopping for Aranea they not only take on Hunts for the next few days but also take on Vyv's quests as well, and Dino's since they also went to Galdin Quay a couple of times to replenish their food supply via fish since it was the cheapest for them with Noct being the one getting the fish for them but finally they start getting ready to head to Altissia since it was getting close to that time, not only because their PTSD was coming in closer waves like it always did but also because they kept track via a calendar but then they got a surprise by the fact that Gentiana showed up